Mertz Gilmore Foundation Dancer Award
$14,000/year unrestricted grant will empower dancers with sustained support to innovate, network, and build a resilient operational foundation over the next 3 years.
The Mertz Gilmore Foundation Dancer Award (MGFDA) reflects the Mertz Gilmore Foundation’s (MGF) commitment to enriching New York City’s dance ecosystem and NYFA’s shared dedication to equity and justice in the arts. Recognized as a trusted partner, NYFA is currently leading a dynamic 3-year pilot program of the award.
Founded in 1959, the MGF has supported emerging community-driven work, ideas, and movements, often responding to concerns before the wider field of philanthropy recognized the urgency behind them. In the 1980s, the MGF acted to support climate change solutions, address the AIDS crisis, and resource the LGBT and immigrant rights movements. In 2018, Mertz Gilmore began to publicly talk about its values-driven work in terms of justice and equity, recognizing that advancing racial, economic, environmental, and gender justice are crucial components to maintaining vibrant communities and a sustainable environment.
INAUGURAL RECIPIENTS
Benjamin Akio Kimitch
Maria Bauman
Roderick George
Brandon Kazen-Maddox
Jordan Demetrius Lloyd
zavé martohardjono
Soles of Duende (Brinda Guha, Amanda Castro, and Arielle Rosales)
Image Detail: Photo by Kathleen Kelley with collage by zavé martohardjono; “TERRITORY: The Island Remembers;” 2022; Presented by Gibney; Featuring: Raha Behnam, Ube Halaya, x, Marielys Burgos Melendez, and zavé martohardjono
